Redskins select TE Reed of Florida in 3rd round

Updated 11:12 am, Saturday, April 27, 2013

Jordan Reed 6-3, 236, Florida He\'s undersized as a tight end. He is more of an H-back than a tight end who can catch and block. Some compare him to former Gator Aaron Hernandez, an undersized tight end who was drafted by New England in the fourth round and has become one of Tom Brady’s favorite targets.

Jordan Reed 6-3, 236, Florida He\'s undersized as a tight end. He...

Florida's Mike Gillislee (23) is congratulated by teammates Jordan Reed (11) and Quinton Dunbar (1) after a touchdown run against Texas A&M during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M begins a new era with its first Southeastern Conference game after leaving the Big 12 Conference. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Photo: David J. Phillip, Associated Press

Florida's Mike Gillislee (23) is congratulated by teammates Jordan...

GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 20: Tight end Jordan Reed #11 of the Florida Gators runs with the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 20, 2012 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins selected tight end and New Britain native Jordan Reed of Florida in the third round of the NFL draft.

The Redskins chose Reed with the 85th overall pick Friday night.

Reed is 6-foot-2 and weighs 236 pounds and is best known in Connecticut for transfering to and helping New London reach consecutive state championship games as a quarterback in 2007 and 2008.

Though Reed was injured midway through the 2008 season, New London defeated Seymour in the Class SS title game behind then-freshman quarterback Casey Cochran. The previous year, Reed and the Whalers lost to Ansonia in the Class S title game.

Reed, whose older brother David plays for the Baltimore Ravens, didn't have a clue that he was on the Redskins' radar.

"I had no idea I was going to get picked by Washington," the 6-foot-2, 236-pound tight end said. "Big surprise to me. I'm just so excited."

Reed was recruited as a quarterback by Florida and moved to tight end in 2011. Last year he led the Gators in receiving with 45 catches for 559 yards.

The Redskins already have Fred Davis, Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen at tight end, but the position has gained more prominence in the NFL passing game in recent years because of versatile players like Bristol Central product and former Gator Aaron Hernandez, now with the New England Patriots.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said he could envision all four tight ends on the field at once, especially with Reed's route-running potential.

"A lot like Hernandez," Shanahan said, comparing the two former Connecticut high school stars. "I'm not sure if Hernandez is that fast, but he's got the ability to beat linebackers and defensive backs because he knows how to run routes, and this guy's very similar."